Our Mission

The Mission of the Institute is to provide an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write in order to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to national defense.

Internationally acknowledged as the best one-volume reference to the world's naval and paranaval forces, this popular Naval Institute guide is both comprehensive and affordable. Updated biennially since 1976, it has come to be relied on for all-inclusive, accurate, and up-to-date data on the ships, navies, coast guards, and naval aviation arms of more than 180 countries and territories. Large fleets and small maritime forces get equally thorough treatment as evidenced in this new edition, which highlights major and even minor developments that could have an impact on the world scene. A thorough indexing of material and a logical ship-typing system make the book easy to use and allow for quick comparisons between fleets.

The guide continues to present timely, authoritative information supported by more than four thousand illustrations from correspondents throughout the world. From giant aircraft carriers and ballistic missile submarines to tugboats and launches, the characteristics and capabilities of ships large and small are reliably recorded. Complete descriptions of naval aircraft, weapons, weapon systems, and sensors are also provided along with useful commentary on organization, personnel strengths, and bases.

ERIC WERTHEIM is a defense consultant, columnist and author specializing in naval and air force issues. He was named to the helm of the internationally acknowledged, one volume Naval Institute reference Combat Fleets of the World in 2002.

As author and editor, his duties include tracking, analyzing and compiling data and photography on every vessel, aircraft and major weapon system, in every naval and paranaval force in the world - from Albania to Zimbabwe. He leads an independent maritime intelligence effort that spans the globe to produce the book commonly known as Combat Fleets.

Frequently contacted by the news media for on-air interviews and background information related to international naval incidents, Eric Wertheim has served as a speechwriter for senior Pentagon officials and as a consultant to best-selling authors, publishers and nonprofit organizations. He has been instrumental in the advancement of numerous high-technology weapons and concepts, and from 1994 through 2004 Mr. Wertheim wrote the bimonthly "Lest We Forget" column on historic U.S. warships for the Naval Institute's Proceedings magazine.

Since 2004, Eric Wertheim has written the monthly "Combat Fleets" column for Proceedings, and his annual review of world navies runs in the March issue of the magazine. He is the coauthor with Norman Polmar of the books, Chronology of the Cold War at Sea and Dictionary of Military Abbreviations, both published by the Naval Institute Press.

Bringing a unique perspective to international naval analysis and writing, Mr. Wertheim is a former Washington, D.C., police officer (Reserve) and graduate of the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Academy. Mr. Wertheim was named Reserve Police Officer of the Year in 1997.

"Essential for any library desirous of maintaining comprehensive naval and national security policy collections." —American Reference Book Annual

"There is absolutely nothing that compares with the Naval Institute's Combat Fleets of the World. Superbly comprehensive and authoritative, this volume provides accurate, up-to-date information. The researcher and military enthusiast will find the book absolutely essential and the price a bargain." —The Hook

"...Combat Fleets of the World has just been published, representing the latest edition of a peerless, definitive assessment of world navies today."—Warships International Fleet Review

Eric Wertheim is a defense consultant, columnist, and author specializing in naval and air force issues. As an author and editor, he tracks, analyzes, and compiles data and photography on every vessel, aircraft, and major weapon system in every naval and paranaval force in the world--from Albania to Zimbabwe. The work is published as the Naval Institute Press' definitive Guide to Combat Fleets of the World. Eric has served as speechwriter for senior Pentagon officials and as a consultant to best-selling authors, publishers, and nonprofit organizations--and has been instrumental in the advancement of numerous high-technology weapons and concepts. A columnist for Proceedings magazine since 1994, he is co-author of Chronology of the Cold War at Sea, among other books.

More by this Author

Naval Institute Guide to COMBAT FLEETS OF THE WORLD, 15th Edition

Internationally acknowledged as the best one-volume reference to the world's naval and... Read More

"If you're interested in naval affairs, the latest edition of this comprehensive guide to the world's fleets is an essential tool. It's not only "the nation's premier naval reference book" with detailed entries for more than 180 countries from Albania (with a 2000-strong force) to Zimbabwe (with a "fleet" of ten patrol boats) but at 1008 pages, 4067 photographs, and 133 line drawings, it also provides hours of informative browsing."
To read more of this Military.com review: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,133343,00.html

Warships International Fleet Review, July 2007

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

By: Capt. Edward Lundquist, USN (Ret.)

It is amazing, this effort: "...THE TITANIC JOB REPRESENTED BY TAKING THE HELM OF A GARGANTUAN BOOK THAT PROFILES THE WORLD?S FLEETS IN EXHAUSTIVE DETAIL."